The University of Sydney

MOOC Introduction to Calculus

Notes for ‘Riemann sums and definite integrals’

Important Ideas and Useful Facts:

(i) Riemann sums, areas under curves and the definite integral:
Suppose that a < b and consider a continuous function f defined for x along the interval
a ≤ x ≤ b . Divide this interval into n subintervals (not necessarily of equal width) by
choosing
t0 = a < t1 < t2 < t3 < . . . < tn−1 < tn = b ,
so that [ti−1 , ti ] denotes the ith subinterval for i = 1 to n. Choose points
x 1 , x 2 , . . . , xn
within successive subintervals, that is, xi ∈ [ti−1 , ti ] for i = 1 to n. Denote by ∆xi the
width of the ith subinterval, that is
∆xi = ti − ti−1 ,
for i = 1 to n. We think of ∆xi as a small change in x, as x moves across the interval
from ti−1 to ti . Then the (signed) area under the curve (that is, bounded by the curve,
the x-axis and the vertical lines x = a and x = b) is approximated by the Riemann sum
∑
n
f (xi )∆xi = f (x1 )∆x1 + f (x2 )∆x2 + . . . + f (xn )∆xn .
i=1

Each summand f (xi )∆xi is the area of an approximating rectangle of width ∆xi and
height f (xi ). The exact value of the (signed) area under the curve is the limit of the
Riemann sums ∫ b ∑n
f (x)dx = lim f (xi )∆xi ,
a n→∞
i=1
and called the definite integral of f from a to b. This limit exists regardless of the choices
made in partitioning the interval, or in choosing each xi in the ith subinterval, for i = 1
to n, provided the widths of the subintervals approach zero as n → ∞.
(ii) Upper and lower Riemann sums: A Riemann sum is called lower if the rectangles always
sit beneath the curve and it provides a lower bound for the area under the curve.
If the curve is increasing then the lower Riemann sum is formed always by choosing the
left-hand endpoints of the subintervals.
If the curve is decreasing then the lower Riemann sum is formed always by choosing the
right-hand endpoints of the subintervals.
A Riemann sum is called upper if the rectangles always sit above the curve, and it provides
an upper bound for the area under the curve.
If the curve is increasing then the upper Riemann sum is formed always by choosing the
right-hand endpoints of the subintervals.
If the curve is decreasing then the upper Riemann sum is formed always by choosing the
left-hand endpoints of the subintervals.

1
(iii) Properties of the Definite Integral:
∫ b ∫ b ∫ b
(a) c dx = c(b − a) and cf (x) dx = c f (x) dx for any constant c.
a a a
∫ b ∫ b ∫ b
(b) f (x) ± g(x) dx = f (x) dx ± g(x) dx .
a a a
∫ a ∫ b ∫ a
(c) f (x) dx = 0 and f (x) dx = − f (x) dx (defined also when a ≥ b).
a a b
∫ c ∫ b ∫ c
(d) f (x) dx = f (x) dx + f (x) dx .
a a b

Examples:
∫ 5
1. Evaluate 3 dx , the area under the constant function 3 over the interval [−2, 5].
−2
Solution: The definite integral is the area of a rectangle of height 3 units and width 7, so
∫ 5
3 dx = 3 × 7 = 21 .
−2

∫ −2
2. Evaluate and interpret the definite integral 3 dx ,
5
Solution: Moving backwards along the interval [−2, 5] has the effect of measuring the
base of a rectangle (appearing in the Riemann sum) as negative. Since the integrand
is positive, one expects to produce a negative area. This is confirmed by the following
formal manipulation, using the answer to the previous exercise, where we multiply the
definite integral by negative one when we swap the terminals:
∫ −2 ∫ 5
3 dx = − 3 dx = −21 .
5 −2

3. Evaluate and interpret the definite integral

∫ 2
( )
f (x) + 3g(x) − 7h(x) dx ,
2

where f , g and h are any continuous functions defined on an interval containing x = 2.

Solution: The definite integral evaluates to zero, as the interval [2, 2] = {2} over which
we are integrating is degenerate, consisting of a single point, so the area under the curve
vanishes.
4. Evaluate ∫ 1 ( )
2 + 6x2 dx ,
0
∫ 1
1
given that x2 dx = .
0 3
Solution: We have
∫ 1 ∫ ∫ (1)
( ) 1 1
2
2 + 6x dx = 2 dx + 6 x2 dx = (2 × 1) + 6 × = 4.
0 0 0 3

2
5. Evaluate ∫ 5 ( )
6 − f (x) + 2g(x) dx ,
1
∫ 5 ∫ 5
given that f (x) dx = 14 and g(x) dx = −5.
1 1
Solution: We have
∫ 5 ∫ 5 ∫ 5 ∫ 5
( )
6 − f (x) + 2g(x) dx = 6 dx − f (x) dx + 2 g(x) dx
1
( 1
)
1 1
= 6 × (5 − 1) − 14 + 2(−5) = 24 − 14 − 10 = 0 .

6. Find ∫ 7
f (x) dx ,
1
∫ 5 ∫ 3 ∫ 5
given that f (x) dx = 2 and f (x) dx = 5 and f (x) dx = −2.
3 1 7
Solution: We have
∫ 7 ∫ 3 ∫ 5 ∫ 7
f (x) dx = f (x) dx + f (x) dx + f (x) dx
1 1 3 5

∫ 3 ∫ 5 ∫ 5
= f (x) dx + f (x) dx − f (x) dx = 5 + 2 − (−2) = 9 .
1 3 7

7. Use a lower Riemann sum with 6 subintervals, by finding the areas of the lower rectangles
beneath the curve,∫ 3 as indicated in the following diagram, to find a lower bound for the
√
definite integral x dx , quoting your answer to two decimal places.
0

y
√
y= x

1 2 3 x

Solution: Each rectangle has width 0.5 and the heights of the lower rectangles are, in
succession from left to right,
√ √ √ √
0, 0.5 , 1 , 1.5 , 2, 2.5 .

Hence the lower Riemann sum is

( √ √ √ √ )
0.5 0 + 0.5 + 1 + 1.5 + 2 + 2.5 ≈ 2.96 .

3
8. Use an upper Riemann sum with 6 subintervals, by finding the areas of the upper rect-
angles, as
∫ 3indicated in the following diagram, to find an upper bound for the definite
√
integral x dx , quoting your answer to two decimal places.
0

y
√
y= x

1 2 3 x

Solution: Each rectangle has width 0.5 and the heights of the rectangles are, in succession
from left to right, √ √ √ √ √
0.5 , 1 , 1.5 , 2, 2.5 , 3.
Hence the upper Riemann sum is
(√ √ √ √ √ )
0.5 0.5 + 1 + 1.5 + 2 + 2.5 + 3 ≈ 3.83 .

9. Use the average

∫ 3 of the lower and upper bounds found in the previous two exercises to
√
estimate x dx, quoting your answer to one decimal place.
0
Comment on whether you think this estimate will be an underestimate or an overestimate
of the true area under the curve.
Solution: The average of the lower and upper bounds from the previous exercise is
2.96 + 3.83
≈ 3.4 ,
2
to one decimal place.
The average of the lower and upper Riemann sums for an increasing function, such as this
one, uses areas of trapeziums, so should provide an underestimate of the true area under
the curve, since the curve is concave down so sits just above the lines joining endpoints
of the subintervals.
Soon you will be able to evaluate this area exactly using the Fundamental Theorem of
Calculus. In fact, ∫ 3
√ √
x dx = 2 3 ≈ 3.5 ,
0
to one decimal place, which is slightly more than the estimate, confirming our expecta-
tions.

4
10. Use the average of the lower and upper Riemann sums, using 4 subintervals,

1
y= x

1
1
2

1 2 x

∫ 2
dx
to estimate , rounding off your final answer to three decimal places. Comment
1 x
on whether you expect your estimate to be an underestimate or overestimate of the true
area under the curve.
Solution: The partition of the interval uses the points

1 , 1.25 , 1.5 , 1.75 , 2 .

Each subinterval has width 0.25. To form the lower Riemann sum L, we use the right-hand
endpoints of the subintervals, and we get the lower bound
( )
1 1 1 1
L = 0.25 × + + + ≈ 0.6345 ,
1.25 1.5 1.75 2
to four decimal places. To form the upper Riemann sum U , we use the left-hand endpoints
of the subintervals, and we get the upper bound
( )
1 1 1 1
U = 0.25 × + + + ≈ 0.7595 ,
1 1.25 1.5 1.75
to four decimal places. The average of L and U is (keeping everything exact, this time),
( )
L+U 1 2 2 2 1
= 0.125 × + + + + ≈ 0.697 .
2 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2
We estimate the area under the curve to be about 0.697, and expect this to be a slight
overestimate, since the curve is concave up, so the curve sits slightly below lines joining
endpoints of subintervals.
Soon you will be able to evaluate this area exactly using the Fundamental Theorem of
Calculus. In fact, ∫ 2
dx
= ln 2 ≈ 0.693 ,
1 x
to three decimal places, which is slightly less than the estimate, confirming our expecta-
tions.